Device for anchoring a beach parasol pole in sand or in a sandy soil

ABSTRACT

A device for anchoring a pole for a beach parasol in sand or in sandy soil includes a buriable plate manufactured from a rigid or semi-rigid material, a sleeve intended to receive said pole, the sleeve being associated with said plate by means of a junction zone, the sleeve opening out on both sides. The sleeve includes a tubular inner wall connected to the outer wall by means of radial ribs. The radial ribs extend towards the inside of the tubular inner wall in order to come into contact with the wall constituting the pole. These projecting parts of ribs inside the tubular inner wall first facilitate the insertion of the pole by rotation in the tubular inner wall while flexing the projecting parts of thr ribs, and secondly increase the clamping of the pole in the sleeve through relatively high pressure exerted on the wall of the pole.

The present invention relates to a device for anchoring a beach parasol pole in the sand or in a sandy soil.

To hold a parasol pole in the sand of a beach, the most usual solution consists in planting the tapered end of a parasol pole in the sand and pressing it in manually. The mast of the parasol is then attached in the free end of the pole.

Because of the fluid nature of sand, this anchoring for the parasol does not well resist the action of the wind on the deployed fabric of the parasol. This is because the wind load of the open parasol is relatively high and it merely takes a violent gust to pull it out of the sand and to make it gain speed, transforming it into a formidable projectile. Fatal accidents have occurred during the past few years just on French territory.

A parasol foot for screwing is also known, which consists of a cone surmounted by a tubular part equipped with a screwing grip and a screw for clamping the tube constituting the foot of the parasol. A helical thread is formed around the cone. The parasol foot is screwed into the sand and the parasol pole is inserted in the tubular part, and the pole is locked by tightening the screw. The resistance of the parasol pole to pulling away is improved, because of the increased surface of the parasol foot to be screwed in contact with the sand and the presence of the helical thread, but does however remain insufficient to retain it in a blast of wind.

From reading the document US-A1-2013/206954, a portable support base for holding a parasol in the sand is also known. The support base comprises a membrane and a mounting support. The membrane is in the form of a disc, and is manufactured from a fabric woven in a PVC-coated polyester fibre. The thickness of the membrane is 0.75 mm. The diameter of the disc is between 46 cm and 91 cm and ideally measures 60 cm.

The mounting support comprises an upper part situated on the top side of the membrane and a lower part situated on the bottom side of the membrane. The two parts are attached to each other or to the membrane.

The mounting support is defined by a central tubular element through which there passes an internal bore a little larger than the diameter of the rod of the parasol and is surrounded by an upper outer sleeve. The latter is secured in the membrane by force fitting, by a fixing or with an adhesive. It is manufactured from rubber or plastics material, such as PVC. The upper outer sleeve has a thread passing through it wherein a clamping screw makes it possible to lock the rod of the parasol.

Considering this state of affairs, the applicant has sought a solution that is simpler to use and simpler to manufacture for holding a parasol in the sand of a beach or in a sandy soil.

For this purpose, a device is proposed for anchoring a pole for a beach parasol in the sand or in a sandy soil, comprising a buriable plate manufactured from a flexible or semi-rigid material, a sleeve intended to receive said pole, the sleeve being associated with said plate by means of a junction zone, the sleeve opening out on both sides; according to the invention, the sleeve comprises a tubular inner wall connected to the outer wall by means of radial ribs, said radial ribs being extended towards the inside of the tubular inner wall so as to come into contact with the wall constituting the pole.

These projecting parts of ribs inside the tubular inner wall first of all facilitate the insertion of the pole by rotation in said tubular inner wall while flexing the projecting parts of said ribs and secondly increase the clamping of the pole in the sleeve through the relatively high pressure that they exert on the wall of the pole.

The sleeve does not require any additional clamping device for holding the parasol pole. The anchoring device is relatively economical to manufacture.

According to another feature of the invention, a tubular intermediate wall is formed between the outer wall and the tubular inner wall, the tubular intermediate wall being connected to the outer wall and to the tubular inner wall, by means of radial ribs.

The presence of this tubular intermediate wall increases the stiffness of the tubular inner wall.

According to another feature of the invention, the sleeve has in front view an outer wall in the form of a truncated cone and the large base of which forms the junction with the buriable plate.

This form of the sleeve procures for it good mechanical strength and increases the pressure that the sand exerts around the sleeve when the anchoring device is buried.

According to another feature of the invention, openings pass through the buriable plate at the junction zone and radial folds delimit, in the buriable plate, facets in the form of angular sectors, from the sleeve as far as the periphery of the buriable plate, at least one radial fold being secant to an opening.

The openings provide flexibility in the junction zone.

The facets are thus less deformed by the inclination of the sleeve in a situation of wind on the parasol. They can thus remain stable when they are kept captive in the sand, which avoids loosening of the buriable wall.

The openings allow folding of the facets in line with the sleeve.

According to another feature of the invention, alveoli are formed on the top face, intended to be turned upwards, of the buriable plate.

Studs are formed in the burying sand, which increases the resistance of the device to pulling away and improves safety thereof in operation.

According to another feature of the invention, the bottom face of the buriable plate has a smooth appearance.

The smooth bottom face procures a sucker effect for the buriable plate with an underlying damp sand.

According to another feature of the invention, the buriable plate has, when it rests on a flat support, the form of a disc with a diameter of between 20 cm and 40 cm+/−2 cm with a preferential value of 30 cm+/−2 cm.

The anchoring device is effective for the majority of beach parasols where the diameter of the open fabric is approximately 180 cm.

According to another feature of the invention, the anchoring device includes a pole for a parasol.

This assembly makes it possible to accommodate a parasol mast.

Advantageously, the anchoring device includes a parasol mast equipped with a fabric and a mechanism for deploying same.

This assembly procures self-contained use of the parasol.

A method for manufacturing an anchoring device forms part of the invention. According to the method, the anchoring device is manufactured by moulding, the buriable plate and said sleeve forming one and the same object manufactured in a single piece.

The anchoring device manufactured by moulding is ready to be used. It is packaged so as to be offered for sale.

Advantageously, the material chosen is an elastomer, the hardness of which is between 60 and 90±8 IRHD, the thickness of the buriable plate being between 2 and 10 mm with a preferential value of 3 mm.

In this way a buriable plate is obtained that has sufficient rigidity and in particular when the buriable plate is defined by facets.

The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will emerge more clearly from the reading of the following description of an example embodiment, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device for anchoring in the sand a beach parasol pole according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a front view in cross section of a device for anchoring a beach parasol pole in the sand, wherein the buriable plate that constitutes it is set flat on a surface while forming a disc according to the invention,

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a device for anchoring a beach parasol pole, wherein the buriable plate that constitutes it is open, forming a disc according to the invention,

FIG. 4 shows a view in cross section of a sandy soil wherein a device for anchoring a beach parasol pole according to the invention is buried, and

FIG. 5 shows a view in cross section of a sandy soil wherein a device for anchoring a beach parasol pole is buried, the actions of the effect of the wind on the parasol being simulated on the pole according to the invention.

The anchoring device 100, presented in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, is intended to anchor, in a secure manner, the pole P forming a parasol, in the sand of a beach or in a sandy soil.

It is composed of a buriable plate Pf, and a sleeve Mn for receiving a pole P for a parasol.

On FIG. 2, the buriable plate Pf is set flat on a support surface N to simulate a burying situation. The buriable plate Pf in this situation preferably is in the form of a disc D so that the user of the anchoring device 10 does not have to choose its best operating orientation. In an advantageous embodiment, the diameter of the disc D is between 20 cm and 40 cm+/−2 cm depending on the size of the beach parasol, with a preferential value practically equal to 30 cm+/−2 cm, corresponding to the majority of beach parasols, the diameter of the open fabric of which is approximately 180 cm.

The planar buriable plate Pf is manufactured from a flexible or preferentially semi-rigid material, manually deformable, but which does not suffer permanent deformation, in the range of normal use.

The hardness of the elastomer is selected between 60 and 90±8 IRHD. The elastomer is selected in particular from nitrile, EPDM (the abbreviation for ethylene propylene diene monomer), silicone or rubber. The elastomer selected is preferably a regenerated polypropylene.

A material that is well suited for manufacturing this plate Pf is a flat sheet of elastomer with a thickness of between 2 mm and 10 mm. A value of 3 mm procures correct strength and sufficient rigidity.

The top face of the buriable plate Pf that is intended to be turned upwards has alveoli V for being able to receive by moulding a plurality of aggregates of sand grains and thus to increase the surface of contact of said plate with the mass of sand situated above it. On the other hand, the bottom face of which is smooth to procure a sucker effect with an underlying damp sand.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, the alveoli V are aligned radially. They have a square shape at the periphery of the burying plate that changes towards a rectangular shape when approaching the sleeve Mn, and delimiting between them relatively small separations of almost constant thickness. A thousand alveoli at a minimum are formed in the buriable plate Pf. In this way, a plurality of studs are formed by moulding in the burying sand, which increases the resistance of the device to pulling away and improves the operating safety thereof.

The material forming the buriable plate Pf may incorporate a reinforcement frame T made for example from a plurality of crossed polyester fibres, to increase the resistance to tearing of the buriable plate Pf.

The sleeve Mn is connected to the buriable plate Pf by means of a zone of a junction Zj.

The sleeve Mn is erected perpendicular to the top face of the disc D and at the centre thereof. It is intended to receive the part of a beach parasol pole P that is normally intended to be buried in the ground.

The anchoring device 100 of the invention is manufactured in a plastic-injection mould.

The sleeve Mn thus forms an integral part of the anchoring device 100, i.e. the buriable plate Pf and said sleeve Mn form one and the same object manufactured in a single piece.

This embodiment is suitable for mass production.

The sleeve Mn opens up on both sides. It has in front view an outer wall Tc in the form of a truncated cone Tc, the large base of which forms the junction Zj with the buriable plate Pf in order to procure for it good mechanical strength and to increase the pressure of the sand around the sleeve Mn.

In FIG. 2, the sleeve Mn is defined by a tubular inner wall Pt wherein it is necessary to insert the pole of the parasol.

The tubular inner wall Pt preferentially has a cylindrical shape, as is clear in this FIG. 2.

In the invention, this tubular inner wall Pt is connected to the outer wall Tc by means of a plurality of radial ribs Nv for accepting the deformation of said tubular inner wall.

Thus the tubular inner wall Pt can increase in size during the insertion of the pole in order to accept poles with various diameters.

A tubular intermediate wall Pti is formed between the outer wall Tc and the tubular inner wall Pt. This tubular intermediate wall Pti is connected to the outer wall Tc and to the tubular inner wall Pt, by means of the radial ribs Nv. The tubular intermediate wall Pti preferentially has a cylindrical shape, as is clear in this FIG. 2. The presence of this tubular intermediate wall Pti increases the stiffness of the tubular inner wall Pt.

Moreover, the radial ribs Nv are extended inside the tubular inner wall Pt and are sized so as to come into contact with the wall of the pole P. These projecting parts of the ribs Nv inside the tubular interior wall Pt firstly facilitate the insertion of the pole by rotation in said tubular inner wall Pt while flexing the projecting parts of said ribs, and secondly increase the clamping of the pole in the sleeve Mn by the relatively high pressure that they exert on the wall of the pole T. To further increase the clamping, the user can turn the pole P in the opposite direction in the tubular internal wall Pt to return the projecting parts of the ribs Nv into a radial plane.

In the invention, and as is clear on FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, openings Ov pass through the buriable plate Pf at the junction zone Zj. Four openings Ov are distributed regularly around the axis of the tubular intermediate wall Pt.

On FIGS. 1 and 3, radial folds Jr delimit in the buriable plate Pf facets in the form of angular sectors Sa, from the sleeve Mn as far as the periphery of the buriable plate Pf. At least one radial fold Jr is secant to an opening Ov. The facets Sa have a semi-rigid structure because of the nature of the material constituting the device 100 and because of the thickness of said facets.

Each radial fold Jr is formed by a groove of constant width hollowed out in the thickness of the buriable wall Pf, from the upper face thereof.

The facets Sa thus articulated can then move in order to match the approximately flat relief of the sand on which said buriable wall is resting.

Moreover, and because of the presence of the openings Ov, the facets Sa can fold around the sleeve Mn and in line with it in order to form practically an easily transportable cylinder. The anchoring device 100 can be supplied with a link, such as an elastic strap, for keeping said facets folded.

Because of the presence of the radial folds Jr, the alveoli V are formed solely in the facets Sa. The alveoli are present over at least half of the surface of the facets Sa.

The operation of the anchoring device 100 is as follows with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5: the end of a beach parasol pole P is fitted into the tubular interior wall Pt of the sleeve Mn. The projecting parts of the radial ribs Nv then come into contact with the wall of the pole P to hold it firmly in the sleeve Mn.

To facilitate the insertion of said end, the pole P can be turned in one direction in the sleeve Mn to curve the projecting parts of the radial ribs Nv. The end of the pole is fitted in so that the tapered end thereof emerges from the sleeve Mn by at least around ten centimetres.

The adhesion of the projecting parts of the radial ribs Nv on the tube constituting the pole T suffices to hold it since the pressure applied is relatively high. The tubular inner wall Pt and the tubular intermediate wall Pti can expand while longitudinally compressing the ribs Nv to accept a larger pole. In an advantageous manufacturing method, the thicknesses of the tubular inner wall Pt, of the tubular intermediate wall Pti and of the ribs Nv, and the spacing between the tubular inner wall Pt and the tubular intermediate wall Pti, and between this tubular intermediate wall Pti and the outer wall Tc, are calculated so that the sleeve Mn can accommodate and hold a pole T the diameter of which is between 22 and 25 mm.

The anchoring device 100, equipped with a pole P, is then ready to be used. With reference to FIG. 4, the sand at the location where the parasol is to be placed is hollowed out to a depth of around twenty centimetres. The buriable wall Pf is opened and deposited substantially flat on the uncovered surface of the sand, the facets Sa matching the imperfect flatness of the sand, and the buriable wall Pf is then buried by covering it with the sand B previously removed. The facets Sa of the disc D rest through their bottom faces on the sand and the top face of the buriable wall Pf is covered with a mass of sand B that builds up by moulding in the alveoli V to increase the capacity for retention of the sleeve in said mass of sand. The mast of the parasol is next mounted on the pole P anchored in the sand B. The pole P is thus held in the sleeve Mn secured to the buriable wall Pf, which extends practically in a horizontal direction and is held captive in a mass of sand. In FIG. 5, when a force F1 representing the pressure of the wind on the parasol is exerted radially on the pole P, the junction zone Zj deforms, by virtue of the presence of the openings Ov, under the effect of the torque exerted in the sleeve Mn by the pole P. The pressure exerted by the sand B on the two faces of the disc D limits the deformation of the buriable wall Pf.

In practice, it is the deformation of the junction zone Zf that determines the inclination of the pole held in the sleeve Mn.

The relatively rigid form of the facets Sa remains stable in the sand B by virtue of this flexible junction zone Zj. The form of the buriable plate Pf consequently also remains stable under the force of the inclination of the sleeve Mn through the effect of the wind on the parasol.

The lateral movement of the buriable plate Pf is practically non-existent because of the relatively large surface of the two faces thereof, top and bottom, in contact with the sand B. The alveoli V present on the top face of the buriable plate Pf and the smooth bottom face in contact with moist sand reinforce this tendency of the disc not to slide laterally. The mass of sand B located above the buriable plate Pf traps it. The buriable plate Pf is as if held in a vice.

Moreover, during the burying of the buriable plate Pf, sand penetrates the interstices present inside the sleeve Mn. With reference to FIG. 3, sand can thus penetrate between the pole P and the tubular inner wall Pt, between this tubular inner wall Pt and the tubular intermediate wall Pti, and between this tubular intermediate wall Pti and the outer wall Tc. The sand built up in the sleeve Mn blocks the expansion of the tubular inner wall Pt and of the tubular intermediate wall Pti so that the clamping of the projecting parts of the ribs Nv on the wall of the pole P is maintained, in particular when the sleeve slopes under the effect of the wind on the parasol.

The parasol being open, a component of the force of the wind blowing in the fabric of the parasol acts in the axis of the pole P. This component is indicated by the arrow F2.

The relatively high pressure exerted by the projecting parts of the ribs Nv on the tubular wall of the pole P associated with the presence of sand in the sleeve Mn helps to hold said pole firmly in the sleeve Mn and thus prevents pulling away thereof.

A device for anchoring a pole for a beach parasol in the sand as well as such a pole also form part of the invention.

A device for anchoring a pole for a beach parasol in the sand as well as such a pole and the parasol mast thereof equipped with fabric and a mechanism for deploying same also form part of the invention.

In a period of non-use, the buriable plate can be redeployed around the pole to facilitate transport thereof. 

1. A device for anchoring a pole for a beach parasol in the sand or in a sandy soil, the device comprising: a buriable plate manufactured from a flexible or semi-rigid material, a sleeve intended to receive said pole, the sleeve being associated with said plate by means of a junction zone, the sleeve opening out on both sides, wherein the sleeve comprises a tubular inner wall connected to the outer wall by means of radial ribs, said radial ribs being extended towards the inside of the tubular inner wall so as to come into contact with the wall constituting the pole.
 2. The anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein a tubular intermediate wall is formed between the outer wall and the tubular inner wall, the tubular intermediate wall being connected to the outer wall and to the tubular inner wall, by means of radial ribs.
 3. The anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve has in front view an outer wall in the form of a truncated cone and the large base of which forms the junction with the buriable plate.
 4. The anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein the openings pass through the buriable plate at the junction zone and in that radial folds delimit, in the buriable plate, facets in the form of angular sectors, from the sleeve as far as the periphery of the buriable plate, at least one radial fold being secant to an opening.
 5. The anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein the alveoli are formed on the top face, intended to be turned upwards, of the buriable plate.
 6. The anchoring device according to claim 5, wherein the bottom face of the buriable plate has a smooth appearance.
 7. The anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein the buriable plate has, when it rests on a flat support, the form of a disc with a diameter of between 20 cm and 40 cm+/−2 cm with a preferential value of 30 cm+/−2 cm.
 8. The anchoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a pole for a parasol.
 9. The anchoring device according to claim 8, further comprising a parasol mast equipped with a fabric and a mechanism for deploying same.
 10. The method for manufacturing an anchoring device claim 1, wherein the anchoring device is manufactured by moulding, the buriable plate and said sleeve forming one and the same object manufactured in a single piece.
 11. The method for manufacturing an anchoring device according to claim 10, wherein the material chosen is an elastomer, the hardness of which is between 60 and 90±8 IRHD, the thickness of the buriable plate being between 2 and 10 mm with a preferential value of 3 mm. 